Conductive ball mounting method, and apparatus therefor

Abstract

A conductive ball mounting apparatus and method for holding a conductive ball on the holding face, as has a suction port formed therein, of a holder head thereby to mount the held conductive ball, while interposing a flux therein, on a workpiece. After the end of the mounting action and before a next conductive ball is held, flux removing means for removing the flux adhered to the holding face is brought into abutment against the holding face of the holder head thereby to remove the flux from holding face.

1. A conductive ball mounting apparatus comprising:
 a holder head having a suction port formed in a holding face for sucking a conductive ball; 
 a ball feeding unit for feeding the conductive ball to the holder head; 
 a workpiece supporting unit for supporting a workpiece to mount the conductive ball thereon; and 
 action means for positioning a positioner that positions the holder head at the ball feeding unit and at the workpiece supporting unit, whereby the apparatus mounts the conductive ball on the workpiece with interposing a flux therebetween, 
 wherein the apparatus further comprises a flux remover that contacts the holding face and removes the flux adhered to the holding face, and 
 wherein the flux remover is arranged in a relative action route at the time when the holder head is positioned at the ball feeding unit; 
 wherein the flux remover includes a cleaning member for wiping off the flux and a mover that moves the cleaning member, and 
 wherein the cleaning member can be moved by the mover to an acting position where the cleaning member contacts with the holding face and to a saved position where the contact is avoided. 
 
   
   
     2. The conductive ball mounting apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the apparatus further comprises a residual ball inspector that inspects the presence of the conductive ball on the holding face after the conductive ball is mounted on the workpiece, and 
 wherein the flux remover is arranged between the residual ball inspector and the ball feeding unit. 
 
   
   
     3. A conductive ball mounting apparatus comprising:
 a holder head having a suction port formed in a holding face for sucking a conductive ball; 
 a ball feeding unit for feeding the conductive ball to the holder head; 
 a workpiece supporting unit for supporting a workpiece to mount the conductive ball thereon; and 
 action means for a positioner that positions the holder head at a predetermined position, whereby the conductive ball is mounted on the workpiece with interposing a flux therebetween, 
 wherein the apparatus further comprises a flux remover that removes the flux adhered to the holding face, and 
 wherein the flux remover has an abutting face, against which the holding face of the holder head comes into abutment, so that the holding face and the abutting face may be moved relative to each other while contacting with each other. 
 
   
   
     4. The conductive ball mounting apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the relative movements of the abutting face and the holding face are transverse reciprocations. 
   
   
     5. The conductive ball mounting apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising an absorptive sheet for absorbing the flux on the abutting face thereby to wipe off the flux. 
   
   
     6. The conductive ball mounting apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a shift preventer disposed on the abutting face for preventing the absorptive sheet from coming out of position. 
   
   
     7. The conductive ball mounting apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a shift preventer provided between the abutting face and the absorptive sheet for preventing the absorptive sheet from coming out of position. 
   
   
     8. The conductive ball mounting apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the holding face is formed into a mirror surface or a water-repellent surface. 
   
   
     9. The conductive ball mounting apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising an injector that injects compressed air into an internal space of the holder head. 
   
   
     10. The conductive ball mounting apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an injector that injects compressed air into an internal space of the holder head.